Menu Planning Made Easy

During the fall and before Christmas, I got off my weekly meal planning. I felt I was running to the grocery store ever other day because I was just coming up with recipes a couple of hours before dinner. I was spending more money, stressed out, and eating unhealthy. I went back to planning out my menu and it is so much better. Why did I ever stop? Some people are really intimidated by planning out a menu and getting organized, but it’s pretty simple if you just do a few things.

Meal Planning Made Easy

Pick a day to to go to the grocery store- Most people go around the same time every week so this should be pretty simple. If you don’t have a day, pick one.

I’m using Saturday for my example. Now write out on a piece of paper (or PC) all the days of the week. You’ll want to start with Saturday since that is the day you are shopping on. Mine looks like this.

Saturday-

Sunday-

Monday-

Tuesday-

Wednesday-

Thursday-

Friday-

If you know you will be eating out one night just go ahead and write it in. I know that on Monday my kids are out of school and we’re going skiing for the day so we’ll be eating out.

Saturday-

Sunday-

Monday- Eat Out

Tuesday

Wednesday-

Thursday-

Friday-

Next- What do you have going on that week, church on Wednesday or a practice where you won’t get home until 7:00? You’ll need to come up with easier meals on that day. You could do a crock pot meal or one that doesn’t take long. One of my quick meals is spaghetti so I’ll add it in on Tuesday and a crock meal for Thursday.

We’re over half way done!! This time of year we don’t do anything on Friday nights, but it’s also the end of the week. I usually don’t make a very big meal this day. I usually pick something the kids like, let’s try breakfast for dinner this night.

That’s it! I usually have a frozen pizza in the freezer for a quick meal in case something goes crazy with my plan. You never know when you’ll have a doctors visit, traffic, or a practice will run long.